The Lombardi Trophy was featured prominently by Indianapolis in 2012. / Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA - It came down to overtime - four ballots to be exact - for underdog Minneapolis to pull a Super Bowl LII bidding upset Tuesday over New Orleans, which lost its bid for the game for the first time in 11 tries.

New Orleans host committee chairman Jay Cicero said he believed the deciding factor was the $1 billion, state-of-the-art stadium that the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to move into by the time the 2016 season starts. The futuristic multi-purpose venue will have a capacity of 65,400 regularly but will expand to 72,000 seats for the 2018 Super Bowl.

The Vikings' presentation emphasized the $498 million of public investment into the new stadium.

"I saw our Super Bowl committee in the green room on TV, and the way they jumped for joy is the way I felt inside," Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said at spring owners meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

"It's been 10 years since we've been owners. And it's been a long drive to build this stadium. ... Both for the stadium and the Super Bowl, we can rejoice right now."

The decision to award Minneapolis its first Super Bowl since 1992, when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, came down to a simple majority among 32 NFL owners in the fourth round of voting.

Indianapolis, which also bid for the game, was eliminated in the second round of voting.

"We had a great comprehensive bid with great corporate and civic leaders and a great new stadium coming on line," said Vikings vice president of public affairs Lester Bagley. "It was a tremendous victory. And we're excited about it.

"It was a long stretch. But we got it done."

Part of the presentation called for the construction of eight miles of skyways built in the downtown Minneapolis area that will open in 2018.

The Vikings will play the next two seasons at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota before moving into the new stadium.

"When you think about it, we celebrate winter better than anyone else," said Richard Davis, CEO of US Bank and bid committee co-chair. "We have two and a half years. But we're going to act like we have to be ready tomorrow."

New Orleans hosted Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season. The Superdome had an infamous 34-minute blackout after halftime in the game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

"It was nerve wracking," said Mark Wilf, Vikings president and owner, of the voting process. "But it was a great sense of relief to pull off the victory for our city and the league.

"I really just spoke to the other owners about the importance of the public private partnership in the Twin Cities. ... We're at a critical juncture in the building of our stadium. It will help the league recognize that is a world class venue, a premier destination for people around the country to come to."

As for New Orleans, which was hoping to kick off the city's 300th anniversary celebration with its 11th Super Bowl, there will be another chance for the fan-friendly venue to break its tie with South Florida for hosting the most Super Bowls.

"We were right there," Cicero said. "In the end, we felt it was the new stadium that did it for Minnesota and we congratulate them."